Brake-beam safety support



Feb. 10, 1931. D. HxNDAHL BRAKE BEAM SAFETY SUPPORT Filed April 4, 1928Patented Feb. 10, 1931 DAVID HINDAHI., or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS BRAKE-BEAMSAFETY SUPPORT Application led April 4, 1928. Serial No. 267,328.

As is `well known, brake beams frequently i become detached from thetrucks and will fall upon the track while the train is in motion, thuscausing serious wrecks, unless some means is provided to prevent thisdifficulty. It is customary, therefore, to provide an additional supportfor brake beams, which will catch them in the event they fall andprevent their contact with the track. Examples of such structures Vareshown in the patents to I-Iorrigan No. 1,303,064, May 6th, 1919, GroneNo. 1,655,7 56, January 10th, 1928, and Rice No. 1,656,075, January th,1928. My invention has for its object to provide a support of this kindhaving a minimum number of parts, a simplicity of structure, improvedmeans of attachment to the spring plank, and permanent security withoutthe use of rivets or other additional devices for securing the structureto the spring plank.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing one form of myinvention. Fig. 2 is lan end elevation, partly in section, showinganother form of my invention. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the spring plankwith my supporting means shown in Fig. 2 applied thereto. Fig. 4 is aside elevation, partly in section, showing the spring plank with myinvention applied thereto and portions of the brake beams. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of my bracket.

In the drawings, A is the spring plank which is provided at suitablepoints with spaced apertures a, which may be located as shown in thebottom of the spring plank. These apertures may be placed as shown inFig. 1 at a point adjacent the middle portion of the spring plank, or asshown in Figs. 2 and 3 at points nearer the wheels. As shown in Fig. 1,there will be one set of these apertures, while as shown in Figs. 2 and3 there will be a set of apertures adjacent each wheel for a purposepresently to be described.

These apertures in the spring plank receive a rigid supporting bracketB, which may be a forging or a casting or the like formed preferably ofa strip of material turned down at each end b, these ends b beingprovided with suitable apertures b. It will be noted that the bracket isof less length than the width of the spring plank. The bracket B issimply dropped into position through the apertures a and is thus looselysup` ported on the spring plank with the depending ends b in positionbelow the spring plank to receive a supporting bar C, which is placed inposition through the apertures b. As shown in Figs. 2, 8 and 4t, it may60 be held in place by cotter pins d or other suit able means. The bar Cas shown in these figures has no other function than to act as a safetysupport in the event of the brake beams falling.

In the form shown in Fig. 1 a single supporting bracket is located nearthe middle portion of the spring plank, this bracket being supported bysuitable apertures formed in the spring plank at this point and theconnecting rod for the brake levers is passed through the bracket. Theconnecting rod being thus supported by the bracket has, in addition toits normal function, that of a supporting member C, which is preventedfrom falling should the brake beams become detached, and will in turnact as a safety support for the brake beams and all brake beam parts.

It will be seen from the above description that I have provided Vasafety support for brake beams, extremely simple in construe-p, t-ion,easily manufactured and assembled and one which forms a positive securesupport, which transmits the strains placed upon it 35 directly to thespring plank without the use of rivets or other securing means.

I-Iavin g now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is Y A brake beam support comprsing'a Aspringplankprovided with spaced apertures in .the bottom thereof7 an integralbracket member of less length thanthe Width of the spring plank restingon'the Spring planklancllloosel su orted thereon andrhavnmts 0o 0- y a ni n site ends'cloWn turned and apertufed and clependng nposton beneaththe spring plank Y and a Supporting bar heldinv the apertured encls ofth'e bracket member.

DAVID HINDAHL.

